Atletico Madrid apparently also wanted to sign Lionel Messi some time ago. Barcelona’s rival plan only lasted three hours, then evaporated.
Messi’s future was discussed throughout last summer. Because, his contract has expired at Barcelona.
Initially, it was believed the Argentine striker would survive. Until finally, in the final seconds of the transfer market, Messi left because he failed to sign a new contract, after Barcelona were hampered by the salary limit rules in LaLiga.
Several clubs were then linked with Messi. Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are the two leading clubs to recruit the player.
Apparently, there are other clubs that are secretly interested in him. That club is Atletico Madrid, Barcelona’s rivals in the Spanish League.
It was coach Diego Simeone who revealed it. The Argentine man had asked about Lionel Messi to Luis Suarez, a former Barcelona striker who was brought in in the summer of 2020/2021, regarding the possibility of bringing Messi to Atletico Madrid.
However, that desire is only fleeting. Simeone implies that Atletico’s determination is not as strong as PSG’s to be able to bring in the owner of the 6 Ballon d’Or.
“I’ll tell you something, when everything happened in Barcelona, we called Luis [Suarez], without any intentions and still respect it,” Simeone told Ole magazine, reported by Marca.
“I didn’t call Leo [Messi], but I called Luis. I asked him about how [Messi], what he thinks, if there is a small possibility, or some kind of hypothetical that he might come to Atletico Madrid.”
“But, it only lasted for three hours. Paris Saint-Germain are clearly obsessed with bringing him,” he said.
Lionel Messi finally chose to join PSG. He was contracted for two seasons by Les Parisiens.
While Atletico Madrid finally signed Antoine Griezmann. The Frenchman, who also played for Atletico in 2014-2019, was on loan from Barcelona for one season.
(then / adp)
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